Patents by Inventor Kouji Okazaki
Kouji Okazaki has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
-
Patent number: 9571823Abstract: A 3D video system is disclosed. The 3D video system includes a frame rate converter that stores an input video signal in a rate conversion frame memory included in the frame rate converter, then reads and outputs the input video signal at a doubled clock rate, a signal format converter that converts a pixel sequence of the video signal output from the frame rate converter and outputs the converted video signal, a controller that outputs a timing signal based on the converted video signal, 3D glasses that transmit light alternately to left and right eyes, and switch the transmission of the light to the left and right eyes, based on the converted video signal and the outputted timing signal, and a spatial modulator that spatially modulates light emitted from a light source, based on the converted video signal. The 3D video system enables the modulated light to be viewed stereoscopically.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2014Date of Patent: February 14, 2017Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Akihiro Nagase, Takahiko Yamamuro, Kouji Okazaki
-
Patent number: 9349397Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for forming a magnetoresistive read head includes forming a fixed layer having a first ferromagnetic material that has a fixed direction of magnetization above a lower shield layer, forming a free layer having a second ferromagnetic material positioned above the fixed layer, the free layer having a non-fixed direction of magnetization, forming a first mask above the free layer, the first mask having a predetermined width based on a track width of a magnetic medium, etching the free layer down to the fixed layer using the first mask as a guide, wherein substantially none of the fixed layer is etched, and wherein the fixed layer extends beyond both sides of the free layer in a cross-track direction, and forming magnetic domain control films on both sides of the free layer in the cross-track direction, the magnetic domain control films including a soft magnetic material.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2014Date of Patent: May 24, 2016Assignee: HGST Netherlands B.V.Inventors: Masashi Hattori, Norihiro Okawa, Kouichi Nishioka, Kouji Okazaki
-
Publication number: 20150279392Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for forming a magnetoresistive read head includes forming a fixed layer having a first ferromagnetic material that has a fixed direction of magnetization above a lower shield layer, forming a free layer having a second ferromagnetic material positioned above the fixed layer, the free layer having a non-fixed direction of magnetization, forming a first mask above the free layer, the first mask having a predetermined width based on a track width of a magnetic medium, etching the free layer down to the fixed layer using the first mask as a guide, wherein substantially none of the fixed layer is etched, and wherein the fixed layer extends beyond both sides of the free layer in a cross-track direction, and forming magnetic domain control films on both sides of the free layer in the cross-track direction, the magnetic domain control films including a soft magnetic material.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2014Publication date: October 1, 2015Applicant: HGST Netherlands B.V.Inventors: Masashi Hattori, Norihiro Okawa, Kouichi Nishioka, Kouji Okazaki
-
Patent number: 9030786Abstract: In one embodiment, a magnetic head includes a magnetoresistive sensor having a free layer and a soft magnetic layer adapted to control a magnetization direction of the free layer and a magnetic domain of the free layer, wherein a close-packed plane of the soft magnetic layer is positioned parallel to an air bearing surface (ABS) of the magnetic head. In another embodiment, a method for forming a magnetic head includes forming a magnetoresistive sensor having a free layer above a substrate and forming a soft magnetic layer adapted to control a magnetization direction of the free layer and a magnetic domain of the free layer, wherein a close-packed plane of the soft magnetic layer is positioned parallel or oblique to an ABS of the magnetic head.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2013Date of Patent: May 12, 2015Assignee: HGST Netherlands B.V.Inventors: Norihiro Okawa, Kouji Okazaki
-
Publication number: 20150029610Abstract: In one embodiment, a magnetic head includes a magnetoresistive sensor having a free layer and a soft magnetic layer adapted to control a magnetization direction of the free layer and a magnetic domain of the free layer, wherein a close-packed plane of the soft magnetic layer is positioned parallel to an air bearing surface (ABS) of the magnetic head. In another embodiment, a method for forming a magnetic head includes forming a magnetoresistive sensor having a free layer above a substrate and forming a soft magnetic layer adapted to control a magnetization direction of the free layer and a magnetic domain of the free layer, wherein a close-packed plane of the soft magnetic layer is positioned parallel or oblique to an ABS of the magnetic head.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 23, 2013Publication date: January 29, 2015Applicant: HGST Netherlands B.V.Inventors: Norihiro Okawa, Kouji Okazaki
-
Patent number: 8817083Abstract: An image display apparatus for displaying a 3D video signal using a liquid crystal device such as an HIPS or LCOS device comprises a frame rate converter (3) that converts the input video signal to a doubled frame rate, a signal format converter (4) that converts the pixel sequence of the video signal, a light source controller (7) that outputs a light source control signal for turning the light source used for image display on and off, and a 3D glasses controller (8) that generates a glasses control signal (c3) for shutters (64R, 64L) that switch the transmission of the light to the right and left eyes of 3D glasses (64). The risk of crosstalk between the right and left images, due to device response speed is reduced, without requiring a large number of frame memories.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2012Date of Patent: August 26, 2014Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Akihiro Nagase, Takahiko Yamamuro, Kouji Okazaki
-
Publication number: 20140225986Abstract: A 3D video system is disclosed. The 3D video system includes a frame rate converter that stores an input video signal in a rate conversion frame memory included in the frame rate converter, then reads and outputs the input video signal at a doubled clock rate, a signal format converter that converts a pixel sequence of the video signal output from the frame rate converter and outputs the converted video signal, a controller that outputs a timing signal based on the converted video signal, 3D glasses that transmit light alternately to left and right eyes, and switch the transmission of the light to the left and right eyes, based on the converted video signal and the outputted timing signal, and a spatial modulator that spatially modulates light emitted from a light source, based on the converted video signal. The 3D video system enables the modulated light to be viewed stereoscopicaliy.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2014Publication date: August 14, 2014Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Akihiro NAGASE, Takahiko YAMAMURO, Kouji OKAZAKI
-
Patent number: 8641468Abstract: A method of manufacturing a spark plug includes a joining step of joining a first member and a second member which constitute the spark plug. In the joining step, a first welding electrode in contact with the first member and a second welding electrode which has an elastically deformable intermediate portion and which is in contact with the second member are electrically connected through the first member and the second member, whereby the first member and the second member are joined together by resistance welding.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2012Date of Patent: February 4, 2014Assignee: NGK Spark Plug., Ltd.Inventors: Tomoyuki Tanaka, Kouji Okazaki
-
Patent number: 8630069Abstract: In one embodiment, a magnetic head includes a magnetoresistance effect sensor including a free layer, a hard bias magnetic film adapted for performing magnetic domain control of the free layer by biasing a magnetization direction of the free layer towards a predefined direction that is positioned on both sides of the free layer in a track-width direction, an upper shield positioned above the hard bias magnetic film and the magnetoresistance effect sensor; and an antiferromagnetic (AFM) layer positioned above the upper shield. The upper shield includes first and second upper shield layers, and an AFM coupling layer positioned between the first upper shield layer and the second upper shield layer that is adapted for antiferromagnetically coupling the first upper shield layer and the second upper shield layer, wherein a magnetization of the first upper shield layer is antiparallel with a magnetization of the hard magnetic bias layer.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2012Date of Patent: January 14, 2014Assignee: HGST Netherlands B.V.Inventors: Norihiro Okawa, Kouji Okazaki, Yoshibumi Matsuda, Hiroshi Akiyama
-
Patent number: 8603016Abstract: In a walking assistance device configured to apply a walking assistance force to a femoral part of a user, a walking assistance force provided by a power generator mounted on a pelvic support assembly is transmitted to a femoral part of the user via a femoral support assembly. The femoral support assembly includes a swing arm (60, 62) having a base end connected to an output end of the power generator and a free end opposing a front part of the femoral part of the user, a femoral support member (68, 70) pivotally connected to the free end of the swing arm and having a support surface engaging the front part of the femoral part of the user, and a femoral belt (73, 74) passed around the femoral part of the user and having two ends attached to corresponding lateral ends of the femoral support member. Thereby, the femoral support member is enabled to accommodate changes and/or variations in the contour of the femoral part of the user.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2011Date of Patent: December 10, 2013Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hideo Shimizu, Kouji Okazaki, Hideaki Takahashi, Taiji Koyama
-
Patent number: 8568602Abstract: A method for manufacturing a magnetic sensor that decreases area resistance and decreases MR ratio of the sensor by eliminating any oxide formation in the capping layer of the sensor. The method includes forming a sensor stack having a multi-layer capping structure formed there-over. The multi-layer capping structure can include first, second, third and fourth layers. The second layer is constructed of a material that is not easily oxidized and which is different from the first layer. The sensor can be formed using a mask that includes a carbon hard mask. After the sensor stack has been formed by ion milling, the hard mask can be removed by reactive ion etching. Then, a cleaning process is performed to remove the second, third and fourth layers of the capping layer structure using an end point detection method such as secondary ion mass spectrometry to detect the presence of the second layer.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2011Date of Patent: October 29, 2013Assignee: HGST Netherlands B.V.Inventors: Koji Sakamoto, Atsushi Katou, Takao Yonekawa, Norihiro Ookawa, Kouichi Nishioka, Kouji Okazaki
-
Publication number: 20130280980Abstract: A method of manufacturing a spark plug includes a joining step of joining a first member and a second member which constitute the spark plug. In the joining step, a first welding electrode in contact with the first member and a second welding electrode which has an elastically deformable intermediate portion and which is in contact with the second member are electrically connected through the first member and the second member, whereby the first member and the second member are joined together by resistance welding.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 20, 2012Publication date: October 24, 2013Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.Inventors: Tomoyuki Tanaka, Kouji Okazaki
-
Publication number: 20130010091Abstract: An image display apparatus for displaying a 3D video signal using a liquid crystal device such as an HIPS or LCOS device comprises a frame rate converter (3) that converts the input video signal to a doubled frame rate, a signal format converter (4) that converts the pixel sequence of the video signal, a light source controller (7) that outputs a light source control signal for turning the light source used for image display on and off, and a 3D glasses controller (8) that generates a glasses control signal (c3) for shutters (64R, 64L) that switch the transmission of the light to the right and left eyes of 3D glasses (64). The risk of crosstalk between the right and left images, due to device response speed is reduced, without requiring a large number of frame memories.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2012Publication date: January 10, 2013Inventors: Akihiro Nagase, Takahiko Yamamuro, Kouji Okazaki
-
Patent number: 8310528Abstract: An image display apparatus for displaying a 3D video signal using a liquid crystal device such as an HTPS or LCOS device comprises a frame rate converter (3) that converts the input video signal to a doubled frame rate, a signal format converter (4) that converts the pixel sequence of the video signal, a light source controller (7) that outputs a light source control signal for turning the light source used for image display on and off, and a 3D glasses controller (8) that generates a glasses control signal (c3) for shutters (64R, 64L) that switch the transmission of the light to the right and left eyes of 3D glasses (64). The risk of crosstalk between the right and left images, due to device response speed is reduced, without requiring a large number of frame memories.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2009Date of Patent: November 13, 2012Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Akihiro Nagase, Takahiko Yamamuro, Kouji Okazaki
-
Publication number: 20120184053Abstract: A method for manufacturing a magnetic sensor that decreases area resistance and decreases MR ratio of the sensor by eliminating any oxide formation in the capping layer of the sensor. The method includes forming a sensor stack having a multi-layer capping structure formed there-over. The multi-layer capping structure can include first, second, third and fourth layers. The second layer is constructed of a material that is not easily oxidized and which is different from the first layer. The sensor can be formed using a mask that includes a carbon hard mask. After the sensor stack has been formed by ion milling, the hard mask can be removed by reactive ion etching. Then, a cleaning process is performed to remove the second, third and fourth layers of the capping layer structure using an end point detection method such as secondary ion mass spectrometry to detect the presence of the second layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2011Publication date: July 19, 2012Applicant: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.Inventors: Koji Sakamoto, Atsushi Katou, Takao Yonekawa, Norihiro Ookawa, Kouichi Nishioka, Kouji Okazaki
-
Patent number: 8148906Abstract: In a constant current switching power supply, the current flowing through the load, is feedback-controlled based on the deviation of the detection value (Id) from the target value (Ir), multiplied by a proportional gain (PG), the value of the gain is set to a predetermined value immediately after the load switching element (5) is turned on, and is thereafter gradually reduced with elapse of time. When the current to the load (4) is supplied by a PWM controlled switching circuit (1), the PWM signal is determined based on a product of the deviation and a proportional gain. It is possible to shorten the rise time of a pulsative load current in a situation where the current is relatively large.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2009Date of Patent: April 3, 2012Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Takahiko Yamamuro, Akihiro Nagase, Kouji Okazaki
-
Publication number: 20110172570Abstract: In a walking assistance device configured to apply a walking assistance force to a femoral part of a user, a walking assistance force provided by a power generator mounted on a pelvic support assembly is transmitted to a femoral part of the user via a femoral support assembly. The femoral support assembly includes a swing arm (60, 62) having a base end connected to an output end of the power generator and a free end opposing a front part of the femoral part of the user, a femoral support member (68, 70) pivotally connected to the free end of the swing arm and having a support surface engaging the front part of the femoral part of the user, and a femoral belt (73, 74) passed around the femoral part of the user and having two ends attached to corresponding lateral ends of the femoral support member. Thereby, the femoral support member is enabled to accommodate changes and/or variations in the contour of the femoral part of the user.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 10, 2011Publication date: July 14, 2011Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Hideo Shimizu, Kouji Okazaki, Hideaki Takahashi, Taiji Koyama
-
Patent number: 7957109Abstract: A tunnel magnetoresistance effect magnetic head having between magnetic shield layers, an antiferromagnetic layer, a pinned layer which has the direction of magnetization pinned by exchange coupling with the antiferromagnetic layer, an insulating layer, and a free layer whose direction of magnetization rotates relatively to external magnetic fields, wherein the antiferromagnetic layer is of an antiferromagnetic substance composed mainly of IrMn, the pinned layer is made up of a first pinned layer of CoFe alloy in contact with the antiferromagnetic layer and a second pinned layer of CoFeB alloy which is antiferromagnetically coupled with the first pinned layer, and the first and second pinned layers have the amount of magnetization such that the difference M1?M2 is in the range of 0<M2?M1<0.5 (nm·T) and also have the magnetostriction constants such that the difference |?1??2| is no larger than 5.0×10?6.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2007Date of Patent: June 7, 2011Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.Inventors: Naoki Koyama, Koichi Nishioka, Kouji Okazaki, Shuichi Kojima, Azusa Hori, Satoshi Shigematsu, Yukimasa Okada
-
Patent number: 7944651Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention help to prevent a reduction in the bias magnetic field of a current perpendicular to the plane-type (CPP-type) magnetoresistive effect head, thus suppressing a reduction in read output. According to one embodiment, a CPP-type magnetoresistive effect film is formed on top of a lower magnetic shield. A refill insulation film and a magnetic domain control layer are formed on both sides of an intermediate layer and a free layer of the CPP-type magnetoresistive effect film. A side wall protection film is formed on a side wall of the refill insulation film and on top of the free layer so as to define the height of the magnetic domain control layer. To increase the film thickness of the magnetic domain control layer, the magnetic domain control layer and the refill insulation film are higher than the top surface of the free layer.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2008Date of Patent: May 17, 2011Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.Inventors: Masahiro Ousugi, Kouji Okazaki, Satoru Okamoto, Katsuro Watanabe
-
Patent number: 7795811Abstract: A PDP having display electrodes formed on a front glass substrate, a dielectric layer, and a protective film is provided, where the protective film is a metal oxide film which includes magnesium oxide, and the product of the film thickness at any arbitrary point in the protective film and the ratio of the maximum luminescence intensity of light emission having a wavelength between 400 nm and 450 nm to the maximum luminescence intensity of light emission having a wavelength between 330 nm and 370 nm as measured in accordance with the cathode luminescence method at the arbitrary point has variation within a range of ±15% as the distribution within the surface of the protective film.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2008Date of Patent: September 14, 2010Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Satoshi Maeshima, Masashi Morita, Mitsuo Saitoh, Kouji Okazaki, Yoshiyasu Honma